Summer
has arrived, and you want to be out and about. But what about your pets?

This section
deals with holidays from your pets' perspectives. Since the introduction of
the Pet Passport, it is easier to travel with your cat or dog. If you do,
always make sure you can contact a vet near you incase of emergency. Or, you
may want to stay closer to home and holiday in the UK - in which case you'll
need to find pet-friendly accomodation. Hopefully, the following information
will come in handy!

A
useful site: Dogs
On Tour . This site has loads of information about travelling with dogs
and also about shows happening in the UK.

1)
This is the order that the events must be taken. The microchip is your pet's
ID. It records the animal's details, and its owner's details. It is a tiny
chip placed under the skin via an injection, and doesn't cause the animal
any discomfort.

2)
The vaccination will protect your pet from rabies. Rabies is a viral disease,
transferred from the bite of a rabid animal. It affects the central nervous
system, ultimately causing death within days.

3)
The blood test is done 30 days after the vaccination. The test checks that
your pet has sufficient protection against rabies. Your pet can't enter the
UK until 6 months after the blood test was taken.

4)
Without a PETS certificate, your pet can't enter (or re-enter) the UK. It
won't be issued until 6 months after the date that the blood sample was taken
(providing a successful result was obtained). The certificate proves that
your pet is identified by a microchip, has a current rabies vaccination and
has passed the blood test. The PETS certificate will expire on the date that
your pet's booster vaccination is due.

5)
Your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis)
by a PETS qualified vet 24 - 48 hours before you check in for your journey
to the UK. This ensures that tapeworm eggs will not be shed in the UK. You
will be issued with a certificate.

6)
The declaration states that your pet has not been outside any of the PETS
qualifying countries in the last 6 months. You can obtain the form in advance,
but must fill it in and sign it on the day you come to the UK with your pet.

If
travelling in the UK with your pets, you'll need to find a pet-friendly place
to stay. Most hotels won't allow pets, but there are lots of B&B's and
self-catering holiday houses that do. Check out Pets
On Holiday.comto
find a location near you.

When
travelling with pets, it is very important to remember that dogs
DIE in hot cars.

On
a hot day, the temperature inside the car can rise to double that of the outside,
in just 6 - 10 minutes. Dogs have a warm fur coat, can't sweat and only lose
heat via panting. Even with windows left open, or with a bowl of water, dogs
can soon succumb to heatstroke.

The
symptoms of heatstroke:

1.
Increased activity, panting accompanied by barking or whining;

2.
Panting becomes excessive, with lots of saliva;

3.
The dog is struggling to breathe and may become glassy-eyed, with dark red
gums;

4.
The dog's temperature reaches the point where cell death occurs in the brain,
causing seizures, coma and death.

If
you think your dog is suffering from heat stroke, call a vet immediately.

To
help cool the animal down, find a shady area and remove him from the heat.
Keep him calm and quiet and spray him with water. If possible, direct a fan
onto him to increase heat loss by evaporation. Wrap some ice in a cloth and
apply to the inside of the thigh, armpits, and base of the brain (this is
where major blood vessels are found close to the skin).

To
prevent this happening to your pet, never leave them unattended in the car.
Always take water with you, have a fan blowing cool air towards the animal
and try to park in the shade and use sun screens.

It
is important that your pets are safe when travelling in the car. Cats should
be transported in carriers, securely fastened down. If dogs are travelling
in the boot, you should fit a dog guard to stop them leaping about and prevent
impact in the case of an emergency stop or a crash. Alternatively, travel-cages
are available for restless dogs. Dog seat-belts are also available. Small
animals should travel in their cage, securely fastened. Make frequent stops
for a breath of fresh air and for the toilet. Always provide water for your
pets, and make sure they don't get too hot (open windows, have a fan on, use
sun-shades).

If
you can't take your pet with you, you will have to find someone to take care
of him for you. The obvious choice is a boarding kennel. Always choose a reputable
kennel, and visit first before you leave your animals there. Dogs, cats and
rabbits must be fully vaccinated before they can board, and dogs should be
vaccinated against kennel cough. Some kennels will not take bitches in season,
so check first. To find a kennel near you, take a look at the directory at
PawsAway.co.uk

Boarding
kennels should have insurance and veterinary cover at all times. You can leave
bedding, toys, food and treats for your pets, but not food bowls for hygiene
reasons. Since each kennel will be different in its layout and operation,
you should always visit first.